In December 1980, Roosevelt Edwards, a Jamaican citizen
acting on his own behalf, submitted a communication to the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in which he stated that in
January 1975 he was tried, convicted and sentenced to death for the
murder of Percival Wilshire on March 16, 1974, in the Parish of
Kingston, a crime of which he claimed he was innocent.

It was alleged that in March 1974, Roosevelt Edwards rode a
bicycle along Spanish Town Road and fired several shots at another
man, one of them hitting and crippling this man and another killing
a bystander. The shooting was witnessed by dozens of persons but
none of them came forward as witnesses. Only the crippled man, his
girlfriend and a policeman gave evidence at the trial. None of them
knew the plaintiff before the trial but the crippled man, who,
admittedly was shot from behind, had no or little opportunity to see
the gunman.

Following the trial, a witness for the defense was found, and
in July 1975 the Court of Appeal granted permission for the witness
to give evidence before them. In May 1976, the witness was finally
heard by the Court of Appeal and the appeal was rejected. Roosevelt
Edwards complains of unfair trial.

The Commission, by Note of January 8, 1981, transmitted to
the Government of Jamaica the pertinent parts of the communication
and, taking into consideration the fact that the plaintiff, because
of his status--being kept on Death Row--cannot furnish the necessary
information and documentation to satisfy the requirements of the
Regulations and also to prove his allegations, requested that the
Government of Jamaica provide information regarding the allegations
contained in the denunciation together with any other information
which would permit the Commission to determine whether the internal
legal remedies and procedures had been duly applied and exhausted in
this case. The plaintiff was advised of this request by letter of
the same date.

By letter dated March 19, 1981, the plaintiff informed the
Commission that the Court of Appeal had dismissed his appeal against
the conviction and sentence on February 4, 1981. He also stated that
he was tried in the "absence of his defense counsel," therefore,
without being duly represented before the Court and also that "the
very same Judge who presided over his trial and conviction on January
15, 1975 at the St. Thomas Circuit Court, sat on the Court of
Appeal."

The Commission acknowledged receipt of this letter and at
the same time, by Note of March 20, 1981, transmitted the additional
information to the Government of Jamaica and advised it that because
of the new elements introduced in the case, the Commission urgently
requested that it take whatever measures it deemed necessary so that
all information relevant to the case including the transcripts of the
proceedings of the St. Thomas Circuit Court as well as those of the
Circuit Court of Appeal proceedings be received as soon as possible.
The plaintiff was informed of this request.

Because the Commission received no answer to its Notes of
January 8 and March 20, by Note of August 4, 1982, it reiterated its
requests for information and documentation and informed the
Government of Jamaica of the possible application of Article 39 of
the Regulations if such request was not satisfied within a reasonable
time. The plaintiff was advised of this action.

By Note No. 6/80/1 dated August 27, 1982, the Government
of Jamaica responded to the Commission's Note of August 4, 1982
advising it that the information would be provided as soon as the
appropriate investigation undertaken by the Ministry of National
Security and Justice had been completed. The plaintiff was informed
of these developments by letter of September 1, 1982.

By Note No. 6/80/1 dated September 22, 1982, the Government
of Jamaica provided a copy of the transcripts of the trial in the
Home Circuit Court and the application for leave to appeal the
conviction and sentence of Roosevelt Edwards.

By letter of October 2, 1982, the plaintiff informed the
Commission that he had been granted a stay of execution, that he had
a "witness willing to come forward and testify as to his innocence
and also that his case would soon be reviewed".

The Commission, by Note of May 3, 1983 informed the
Government of Jamaica that it had additional information with regard
to the case, and that this information as well as a review of the
Court's transcripts of the initial trial led the Commission to
believe that the plaintiff had possibly not enjoyed the full benefit
of a fair trial guaranteed by the American Convention on Human
Rights. The Commission therefore, requested that the Government
provide copies of the transcripts of the Court of Appeal hearing held
on June 26, 1976, together with the results of the Ministry of
National Security and Justice's investigation regarding the case of
Roosevelt Edwards and any other information which would enable the
Commission to reach a conclusion in this case. This request was
reiterated on September 27, 1983.

By Note No. 6/80/1 of March 6, 1984, the Government of
Jamaica provided a copy of the transcripts of the Court of Appeal
hearings and the review of the case held on May 14, 1976 and December
3, 1982 respectively.

WHEREAS:

The information and documentation submitted to the
Commission indicate that all domestic legal remedies have been
exhausted and none of the conditions of inadmissibility established
in the American Convention on Human Rights were present, therefore,
there exists no reason not to declare this case admissible.

The documents submitted by the Government of Jamaica show
that Mr. Justice White before whom the case of Roosevelt Edwards was
tried in the Home Circuit Court of Kingston was not a member of the
panel of judges of the Court of Appeal which heard the appeal of the
case on April 5 and 6 and May 14, 1976, contrary to the allegations
contained in the plaintiff's letter of March 19, 1981 to the
Commission;

The case of Roosevelt Edwards was reviewed and the evidence
of his witnesses received by the Court of Appeal on October 13, 15
and 19 and December 3, 1982;

A study of the transcripts of the Home Circuit Court and
the Court of Appeal as well as of the conduct of the trial of
Roosevelt Edwards and review of his case show that the rules of
criminal procedure were observed and that the plaintiff received a
fair trial;

During his trials, Roosevelt Edwards was assisted by
defense counsel,

The documents submitted to the Commission show that the
requirements of due process have been fulfilled.

THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS,

RESOLVES:

To declare that there exists no evidence of the violation
of any of the rights set forth in the American Convention on Human
Rights;

To communicate this Resolution to the Government of Jamaica
and to the plaintiff; and

To recommend that the Government of Jamaica suspend the
execution of those persons sentenced to death, commute the sentence
of Roosevelt Edwards and consider the abolition of the death penalty.